Speed-accelerating mechanism



v. l Aug 927 1'. J. BUTLER f SPEED'AGCELERATING MECHANISM 1 Filed .14, 1925 4 sheets sheet *1 v I Y x; INVENTOR: mama's j B 2 5 W 4 TTORNEYS.

T. J. BUTLER SPEED ACCELERA'IIING MECHANISM v File d Aug-.14. .1925

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1 ATTORNEYS.

1,638,084 1927' T. J. BUTLER SPEED ACCELERATING MECHANISM Filed Aug, 14, 1925 4 sn gs-sheet 3' ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 9, 1927.

T. J. BUTLER I SPEED ACCELERATING MECHANISM Filed Aug.l4, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 w M, A TTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 9, 192? THOMAS J'. BUTLER, OF HARRISON, NEW JERSEY.

SPEED-ACCELERATING JYIIECI-IANISM.

Application filed August 14, 1925. Serial No. 50,285.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements'in mechanical movements; and. the invention'has reference, more particularly, to a novel speed-accelerating device or 5 mechanism, which lends itself more especially on board ship to the starting and speeding up of hydroplanes or air-planes, the plane moving slowly from its taxiing position with immediate accelerated speed,over

10 a short space to its raised position and its flying departure from the ship, or the like.

while in the present specification of the invention. I have described the ,speed-accelcrating device or mechanism as a. starting 15 means for hydroplanes and airplanes, I am fully aware that the herein-described speedaccelerating device or mechanism maybe put to many other uses, where it is desired to obtain increased or accelerated speed.

The present invention, therefore, has for its principal object to provide a novel and simply constructed, as wellas an efficiently operating speed-acce1erating device or mechanism, which may be put to many uses, and which is especially adapted for use in the starting and increasing or accelerating of the speed of hydroplanes, airplanes, and the like. I

Other objects of the present invention not at this time more particularly enumerated will be fully understood from the following detailed description of the invention. Vith the various objects of the present in vention in view, the invention consists, pri- Zf-Ii marily. in the novel speed-accelerating de vice or mechanism hereinafter set forth; and, the invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements and combination of the various devices and parts, as well as in GU the details of the construction of the said parts, all of whichwill be more fully described in the following specification, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claims which are appended to and which form an essential part of the same.

The invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan or top view of the accelerating device or mechanism illustrating its use as a starting and speeding-up means for lrydroplanes; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device, with a. portion of the main carrier being represented in section; and Figure 3 is a partplan view and part horizontal section of the accelerating device or mechanism, with the hydroplane omitted from said view,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the forward portion of the device, on an enlarged scale, showing the releasing position of a certain part of the device. at the timethat the hydroplane is aboutto rise with accelerated speed from the runway of the device. I

Figure 5 is amend-view of the plane-can rier, looking in the direction of the arrow at in said Figure 3; Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 6- 6 in said Figure 3, a'lso looking in the direction of the arrow w; and Figure 7 is a similar section taken on line 7 7 in said Figure 4, looking in thedirection of the arrow y.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the said above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

7 Referring now to the saiclfigures of the drawings, the reference-character 1 indicates a main supporter carrier, usually of a chain.-

bered or hol'low structure, which is suitably secured in a fixed, position upon the deck of a ship, but which may be secured in other desired location, as will be evident.

As indicated more particularly, in Figure 2 of the drawings,.the said main support or carrier 1' hassuitably secured thereon, by means of bolt's'2, or otherwise, in a suitable location, -a suitably constructed base-plate 3 with which is associated a suitably constructed turn-table, as 4, which maybe rotated by means of an actuating gear-mechanism 5, for

bringing the runway 6 of the device horizontally into desired angular positions, as indicated in'Figure 1 of the drawings. The said runway is made in the form of a long box-like element comprising an upper faceplate 7, bounded by downward projecting and longitudinallyextending side-walls 8 and 9, to which is suitably secured a baseplate 10, carrying uponits outer and lower face the above-mentioned turn-table member 4. Therespective end-portions of the said box-like element maybe preferably closed, as will be understood. Extending laterally across the end-portion 11 of the face-plate 7 is a st-op=block, as 12, and at its other endportion 13, the said plate 7 has secured thereto by means of bolts 14, or otherwise, a casting or block 15, formed with a centrally disposed and longitudinally extending releasing element, as 16, havinga projecting portion 17' which is pointed or V-shaped, substantially as shown in Figures 1, 3 and l ot the drawings. On opposite sides of the said. element 16, the casting or block 15 is also provided with longitudinally extending and upwardly projecting tubular members, as .18 and 19, substantially as shown, and the purposes of which will be hereinafter more fully set forth. As shown, the said face-pl ate 7 also made with a centrally disposed and longitudinally extending opening or slot which extends from the said stop-block l2 to a point 21, as indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings, and above which latter portion of the said opening or slot the said pointed or V-shaped portion 17 of the releasing member 16 extends.

As indicated, the speed-accelerating means, which is suitably disposed within the cham ber provided by the box-like runway 6 comprises a series of spindles arranged in pairs, in this case eight pairs of such spindles being employed, and which are respectively indicated by the rel'erence-characters 22 and 23, 2 k and 25, 26 and 27, 28 and 29, 30 and 31, 32 and 33, 34 and 35, and 36 and 37, the respective spindles having their respective endportions rotatably journaled in suitably disposed holes or bearings with which the laceplate 7 and the base-plate 10 are provided. One of the said spindles, as 31, however, is of greater length than the other spindles, and it extends in a downward direction through the top of the main support or carrier 1, said downwardly extending portion of said spindle 31 being adapted to be actuatedtrom a suitable source of power by gearing, or otherwise. Rotation from the spindle 31 is transmitted to the spindle 30 by means of a gear-wheel 39 suitably mounted upon the spindle 31 which is in mesh with a. gear-wheel 38 correspondingly mounted upon the spindle 30. Mounted upon the upper portion of the spindle 22 is a large sprocket wheel or pulley 40 and upon the upper portion of the spindle 24 .is a small sprocket-wheel or pulley 41, while similarly disposed upon the upper portion or the spindle 23 is a large sprocketwl1eel or pulley 42, and upon the upper portion of the spindle 25 is a small sprocket-wheel or pulley 4-3.

Upon the lower portion of the spindle 24. is a large sprocket-wheel or pulley lat and upon the lowerportionof the spindle 26 is a small sprocket-wheel 45. Similarly mounted upon the spindle 25, upon the lower portion thereof, is a large sprocket-wheel or pulley 4:6 and upon the lower portion of the spindle 27 is a small sprocket-Wheel or pulley-4E7. Upon the upper portion of the spindle 26 is a large sprocket-wheel or pulley 48 and upon the upper portion of the spindle 28 is a small sprocket-wheel. or pulley 49 Similarly mounted upon the upper portion of the spindle 27 is a large sprockettion of the spindle 29 is a small sprocketwheel or pulley 51. Mounted upon the lower portion of the spindle 28 is a large sprocket-wheel or pulley 52 and mounted upon the lower portion of the spindle 30 is asmall sprocket-wheel or pulley Mounted upon the lower portion of the spindle 29 is a large sprocket-wheel or pulley 54, and mounted upon the lower portion oi the spindle 31 is small sprocket-wheel or pulley 55. Mounted upon the upper portion of the spindle 30 is a large sprocket-wheel or pulley 56, and mounted upon the upper portion of the spindle 32 is a small sprocketwheel or pulley 57. Mounted upon the upper portion of the spindle 31 is a large sprocket-wheel or pulley 58, and-mounted upon the upper portion of the spindle 33 is a small sprocket-wheel or pulley 59. Mounted upon the lower portion of the spindle'32 is a large sproclt'et-wheel or pulley 60, and mounted upon the lower per 11 oi the spindle 34: is a small sprocket-wheel or pulley (31. Mounted upon the lower portion of the spindle 33 is a large sprocket-wheel or pulley (i2, and mounted upon the lower portion of the spindle 35 is a small sprocket-wheel or pulley 63' Upon the upper portion of the spindle 3st is a large sprocket-wheel or pulley 64c, and mounted upon the upper portion or the spindle 36 is a small sprocket-wheel or pulley 65.

Similarly mounted upon the upper portion of the spindle is a large sprocketwheel or pulley 66, and mounted upon the upper portion of the spindle 3? is a small sprocket-wheel or pulley 67. i

Link-chains or belts 63 are passed over the respective large and si'nall sprocketwheels or pulleys ot the respective spindles, as indicated in said Figure 3 of the drawings, and upon the respective spindles, .in-

termediate the sprocketwheels or pulleys upon the spindles, are suitable propelling discs or wheels (39 and T0, '51. and 72, 73 and 7- 75 and T6, 77 and 78, 79 and 8t), 81 and S2, and 83 and 84, mounted upon the respective spindles 22, 23, 2 1-, 25, 26, 2'7, 28, '29, so, 31, a2, '33, s4, as, as and at.

From an inspection otsaid Figure 3 of the drawings, it will readily be seen, that owing to the arrangement oi the respective sprocket-wheels or pullcys, as well as of the respective propelling discs or wheels, the speed of these various members located to the left of the spindles 30 and 31 will increase, while the speed or the various members to the right of the said spindles will decrease, so that an accelerated speed from right to left of the device or mechanism will be the result. v

Movably mounted upon the herein-above described runway 6 is a plane-carrier or carriage, as 85, which consists, essentially, of

wheel or pulley and upon the upper per a suitably shaped plate 86, formed at its side-edges with downwardly extending members or legs 87 formed with inwardly projecting hub 88 provided with pintles 89 carrying wheels or rollers hose wheels or rollers 90 may also be provided upon their peripheries with annular guide-flanges 91 which fit and roll within correspondingly located grooves or channels 92 in the baseplate to prevent literal displacement of the carrier or carria e 85 when in its embracing relation with the runway 6, as indicated in Figure '6 of. the drawings. Antifriction rollers 93, or othensuitable means, may be placed between the members or legs 87, which rollers extend laterally across and are adapted to move upon the face-plate 7 of the runway, so that the carrier or carriage 85 may have free movement thereon. Extending downwardly from the plate '86 into and through the longitudinally extending opening or slot the face-plate 7 is a Stud 94 which carries a disc or whcel-en gaging member 95 of such width and length that it will be properly encagd by the pairs of propelling discs, so a. to move the carriage or carrier 85 in a forward or backward direction upon the runway 6, according to the direction of rotation of the spindle 31. The said plate 86is also provided upon its upper face 'with longitudinally extending tubular elements or cy lers 96 in whichare movably disposed portions 98 of bumperrods 97.- E-ach bumper-rod 97 is also provided with an enlargement, 99, and ex tending forwardly from said enlargements 99 are rod-portions 100 which are adapted to enter and be received by the tubular members 18 and 19, substantially as indicated in Figure 4 of the drawings. Buffer or shockabsorbing springs 101 encircle the bumperrods 97-, between the enlargements 99 and the end-portions 102 of the tubular elements or cylinders 96, as shown. The plate 86 of the carriage or carrier is also provided with a centrally disposed and upwardly projecting post, as 103, upon which are pivotally mounted the arms 10% and 105 of suitably constructed tongs. comprises a pair of members 106 and 107, and the arm 105 a pair of members lOSand 109, the meinbciw 107 and 109 being connected by a spring 110, substantially as shown, At theirrear end-portions, the said members 107 and 109 are formed with extensions 111 and 112. said extensions being respectively provided with upwardly projecting engaging members, preferably in the form of right-angled flanges 113 and 11% which are adapted to be brought into contact with the end-portion of the usual pontoons 11-6 of the hydro-plane or aeroplane in the manner and for the purposes to be prese itly described.

The p'ontoons 116, as usual, are connected by laterally extending members, as 117,

As shown, the arm 104 which form part of the usual frame 118 of the hydroplane.

The operation for starting the flying machine, and for accelerating the initialmovements, to caue the flying machineto rise under a minimum amount of space, briefly, is as follows: v

Suppose the carrier or carriage 85 hav ing been moved to the extreme right-hand cndportion 11 of the rnnway'ti, with the flanges 113 and 114 of the tongs resting against the stop-block 12, the speedingup or accelerating mechanism also being at rest. By the usual means, the hydroplane is lifted and placed above the carrier orcarriage 85, with the cross-member or members 117 of the frame 118 of the plane resting directly upon the longitudinally extending tubular elements or cylinders 96 of the said carrier or carriage 85.

The speeding or accelerating mechanism is now set in motion, by operatingithe main shaft or spindle 31 in the proper direction. The rotary gripping action of the propelling wheels or discs 69 and in frictionally gripping the member '95 of the carrier or carriage start the latter inthe direction of the arrow 2, as indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings, with the result that the faster ro-v tating discs or wheels '71 and 72, 73 and7 l, and 76,. 77 and '78, 79 and 80,81 and 82, and 83 and '84, will in succession grip the member 95, thus causing the carrier or carriage to move upon the runway 6 from a.

normally slow speed to a constantly increas ing or accelerated maximum speed, At the same time, the flanges or ribs 113, andllal being in contact with the. end-portions of the portions 116 of the hydro-plane, the latter will also be carriedin a forward direction with the carrier or carriage '85, as will be evident.

lVhile thus being moved in its forward in the directions of the arrows uu, as indicated in Figure 4 of the drawings, and con sequently withdrawing the ribs or flanges 113 and 1140f the members 107 and 109 from their active'engagement with the endportions of the pontoons 116 of the flying machine. At this time, also, the carrier or carriage having comein contact with the bumper-springs 101, its forward movement is arrested, but the flying machine, owing to the accelerated speed received from the.

mechanism, during this taxiing or ockeying movement, and vunder its own speed, is lifted from the carrier or carriage to fly away into space, under the guidance of its operator. Simultaneously with the stopping of the carrier or carriage 85, the rotation of the main shaft or spindle 81 is reversed, thus causing the accelerating mechanism to re-.

turn the carrier or carriage to its starting position at the end-portion 11 of the run way 6.

While in the above I have described the use of my invention in connection with the starting of hydro-planes from the decks of battleships and other vessels, it will also be evident that the principles of the accelerating mechanism may also be used for lifting aeroplanes into the air, and that the mechanism may also be used for other purposes where increased or accelerated speed is desired.

I am also fully aware, that changes may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the said parts, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as set forth in the foregoing specification, and as defined in the clauses of the claims which are appended thereto. Hence, I do not limit my present invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts as'described in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim 1. A speed-accelerating means comprising a series of pairs of opposed rotatable propelling discs, and means for progressively accelerating the rotary speed of successive pairs 01. said discs.

2. A speed-accelerating means comprising a longitudinal series of pairs of transversely opposed rotatable spindles, a propelling disc mount-ed upon each spindle, and means cooperating with said spindles for progressively accelerating the rotary speed of successive pairs of spindles and the propelling discs carried thereby. I

3. A speed-accelerating means comprising a series of rotatably disposed spindles, said spindles being arranged in pairs, and one of said spindles serving as a main driving spindle, a propelling disc mounted upon each spindle, a gear upon said main driving spindle, and a gear upon the corresponding spindle in mesh with the gear of the main driving spindle, and means associated with the complement of spindles for variously rotating the speed of the spindles and propelling discs. v

4. A speed-accelerating means comprising a series of rotatably disposed spindles, said spindles being arranged in pairs, and one of said spindles serving as'a main driving spindle, a propelhng disc mounted upon each spindle, a gear upon sa d main driving spindle, and a gear upon the correspondingspin.

dle in mesh with the gear of the main drivin spindle, and means associated with the complement of spindles for decreasing the speed of the spindles and propelling discs located on one side of the main driving spindle, and for increasing the speed of the spin dies and propelling discs located on the op main driving spindle, and for accelerating,

in succession, the speed of the spindles and propelling discs located on the opposite side of the main driving spindle.

6. In an apparatus of the character specitied, a runway, a carriage movably disposed upon said runway, said carriage being adaptcil to receive thereon a flying machine, a series of propelling discs in frictional rela tion with said carriage for moving the'carriage upon said runway, and means as sociated with said discs for rotating the same. i

7. In an apparatus of the character specilied, a runway, a carriage movably disposed upon said runway, said carriage'being adapted to receive thereon a flying machine, a series of propelling discs in frictional rela' tion with said carriage for moving the carriage upon said runway, and means associated with said discs for accelerating the rotary speed of said discs.

8. In an apparatus of the character specified, a runway, a carriage movably disposed upon said runway, said carriage being adapted to receive thereon a flying machine, a series of spindles rotatably disposed upon said runway, and arranged in pairs,'pro pelling discs upon said spindles in fric tional relation with said carriage for moving the carriage upon said runway, and means associated with. said spindles for variously rotating the spindles and propelling discs.

9. In an apparatus of the character specified, a runway, a carriage 'movably disposed upon said runway, said carriage being adapted to receive thereon a flying machine, a series of spindles rotata'bly disposed upon said runway, and arranged in pairs. propelling discs upon said spindles in frictional Y lill relation with said carriage for moving the carriage upon sald runway, and means associated with said spindles for acceleratlng the rotary speed of the spindles and 'propel- I ling discs, and for moving the carriage with accelerating speed from one end of the runway to the other end thereof.

10. In an apparatus of the character specifled, a: runway, a carriage movably disposed upon said runway, said carriage being adapt ed to receive thereon a flying machlne, a

series of spindles rotatably disposed uponposed upon said runway, said carriage being adapted to receive thereon a flying machine, a series of spindles rotata'bly-disposed upon said runway, said spindles being arranged in pa'irs, and one of said spindles serving as a main driving spindle, propelling discs mounted upon said spindles in frictional relation with said carriage for moving the carriage upon said runway, a gear upon said main driving spindle, and a gear upon the corresponding spindle in mesh with the gear of the main driving spindle, and means associated with the complement of spindles for decreasing the speed of the spindles and propelling discs located on one side of the main driving spindle, and for increasing the speed of the spindles and propelling discslocated on the opposite side of the main driving spindle.

12. In an apparatus of the character specified, a runway, a carriage movably disposed upon said runway, said carriage being adapted to receive thereon a flying machine,

carriage upon said runway, a gear upon said main driving spindle, and a gear upon the corresponding splndle 1n mesh with the gear of the main driving spindle, and means sociated with the complement of spindle for decreasing, in succession, the speed of the spindles and propelling discs located on one side of the main driving spindle, and for accelerating, in succession, the speed of the spindles and propelling discs located on the opposite side of the main driving spindle. 13. In an apparatus of the character specifled, a runway, a carriage movably disposed upon said runway,said carriage being adapt- .ed to receive thereon a flying machine, means associated with the runway for moving the carriage thereon, mechanism earned by said carnage for maintaining the flying machine in position upon the carriage during the forward movement of the carriage, consisting of a pair of spring-controlled tong-mem bers, each member bemg provlded w th an engaging flange adapted to be brought into engagement with portions of the flying ma chine, and means carried by said runway for actuating said tong-members, so as to release said engaging flanges from engagement with the flying machine. i

14.. In an apparatus of the character specified, a runway, a carriage movably disposed upon said runway, said carriage being adapted to receive thereon a flying machine, means associated with the runway for moving the carriage thereon, mechanism carried by said carriage for maintaining the flying machine in position upon the carriage during the forward movement of the carriage, consisting of'a pair of spring-controlled tong-members, each member being provided with an engag-' ing flange adapted to be brought into engagement with portions of the flying machine, means carried by said runway for ac .tuating said tong-members, so as to release said engaging flanges from engagement with the flying machine, and means also carried by saidrunway for arresting the'movement of the carriage after release of the flying machine from the carriage. l v

15, In an apparatus of the character specifled, a runway, a'carriage movably disposed upon said runway, said carriage being adapted to receive thereon a flying machine, means associated with the runway for movingthe carriage thereon, mechanism carried by said carriage for maintaining the flying machine in position upon the carriage during the for,-

ward movement of the carriage, consisting of a pair of spring-controlled tong-members, each member being provided with an engaging flange adapted to be brought into engagement'with portions of the flying machine, and a releasing element carried by said runway, said releasing element having a pointed end-portion adapted to enter between said tong-members, so as to release said engaging flanges from engagement with the flying machine. r

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 31st day of July, 1925.

THOMAS J. BUTLER. 

